After scoring 178 in their second innings, England set a grand total of 420 for India within the first Test in Chennai.
After England’s 578 in their first innings, India managed to attain 337 in their first innings despite valiant knocks from Rishabh Pant (91) and Washington Sundar (85*). Despite having a lead of 241 runs, visiting skipper Joe Root chose to not enforce follow-on and sent his team bent bat. Ravichandran Ashwin pulled the rabbit out of the hat for India as his impressive 6/61 bundled England for 178.
India need 381 runs to win, 9 wickets in hand on Day 5 in Chennai TestIndia made 337 in their first innings, England made 178 within the secondR Ashwin took his 28th five-wicket haul, Washington Sundar made 85*
India lost Rohit Sharma in their chase for 420 after Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets to dismiss England for 178 on day four of the opening Test in Chennai on Monday. The hosts reached 39 for one at Stumps after spinner Jack Leach bowled Rohit for 12 on a deteriorating pitch. Shubman Gill, on 15, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 12, were batting at the close with India needing another 381 runs to win the primary of the four Tests. On a dominant day for spinners, Ashwin claimed his 28th five-wicket haul in England’s second innings.
The off-spinner sent back Rory Burns with the primary ball of the innings and struck crucial blows, including taking Ben Stokes for seven.
Skipper Joe Root top-scored with 40 off 32 deliveries. He hit 218 within the first innings of his 100th Test.
Root hit seven boundaries before being trapped lbw by paceman Jasprit Bumrah. Ollie Pope (28) and Dom Bess (25) also helped England build an enormous lead.
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem took two wickets and got wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler stumped for twenty-four . Dan Lawrence (18) was Ishant Sharma’s 300th Test wicket.
India were bowled out for 337 within the ir first innings in the morning session, 42 runs in need of avoiding the follow on despite Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 85.
England, who scored 578 in their first innings, decided against making the house side bat again.